Oregon Republicans Endorse Gay Marriage

By
Carlos Santoscoy
Published:
March 09, 2014

Top Oregon Republicans gathering at
this weekend's Dorchester Conference for the first time endorsed gay
marriage.

The annual gathering celebrated its
fiftieth anniversary this weekend with passage of a resolution in
favor of repealing Oregon's 2004 voter-approved constitutional
amendment which limits marriage to heterosexual unions.

Attendees overwhelmingly (233 to 162)
approved the resolution on Saturday.

Applauding the vote was Dan Occhipinti
of Freedom Oregon, a Republican group formed earlier this year which
supports repeal of the state's ban.

“The freedom to marry is consistent
with the Republican values of freedom, commitment and personal
responsibility,” Occhipinti, a Portland attorney, said in a
statement. “If you can pay taxes and fight for your country, you
should be able to marry the person you love.”

Marriage equality advocates in Oregon
have suspended a campaign to put the issue on the November ballot
pending a ruling before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
– which has jurisdiction over Oregon – in a case challenging a
similar ban in Nevada.